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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Peas Please Pasta

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It's time to bring the glorious blues and greens and yellows of spring to the kitchen. Meals are getting lighter, and salads and quick entrees are beginning to replace slow-cooking winter fare. Today's recipe is a response to spring, and it's lovely shades of green leave no doubt that winter has passed. This pasta is quick, easy and delicious and it makes a perfect meatless meal. Any macaroni can be used to make it, but I love the way the long strands of spaghetti looked when napped with this luscious sauce of cream and a flavored pea puree. While peas are not everyone's favorite vegetable, I hope you'll give this a try. I like it well enough to keep it in my permanent recipe rotation. If served when just sauced and piping hot, any aversion to peas will be forgotten and the pasta will be eaten with gusto. It is also a wonderful way to get vegetables into younger children, especially if you omit the whole pea and pine nut garnish. This dish is table ready in 30 minutes. It's best to make no more of this than can be eaten in a single meal because it can get goopy once it's refrigerated. Enough said. Here's the recipe.Peas Please Pasta...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Michele Humes

Directions:1) Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook spaghetti until tender but still firm to bite, using times suggested on package instructions.2) Meanwhile, place oil and butter in a large skillet. When butter melts add onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 2 cups of frozen peas and cook until softened and bright green in color, about 2 minutes. Transfer contents of pan to a blender. Add cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg and puree until smooth. 3) Strain puree through a sieve back into skillet. Discard solids. Heat sauce to warm through.4) Run reserved 1/2 cup peas under hot water to thaw. Drain pasta, reserving about 1 cup of water. Turn spaghetti into sauce and toss to coat each strand with puree. If too thick, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Transfer to a serving platter and top with reserved peas and pine nuts. Pass cheese at table. Yield: 4 to 5 servings.

62 comments
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Oh my word...I'm still trying to figure out our time difference...but ...I LOVE peas and I love pasta and this looks wonderful!! I'm so happy to be finally thinking of salads and lighter pasta meals now that Spring is here!! Which is why I posted my thing about watermelon radishes! Have you ever heard of them? I certainly had not until we went to the best restaurant here in B'ham and had a salad with watermelon radishes!! Can't wait for you to see the pics of how well they are growing....thats how very much I loved them!! Let me know if you've had them before!!! Can't wait to try this dish, Mary! You are such a dear and I always appreciate and look forward to what you have to say!!!!Sincerely,Carolyn

It was touch and go as to whether winter had truly passed here in the east, but I think we have finally turned the corner! I love peas in any dish - it's been a favorite of mine since childhood. This looks lovely, and I amazed at how you got those strands of spaghetti to curl so beautifully for the photo!

I really do like peas, so this looks fabulous to me! I like the idea of using a tablespoon of butter with the olive oil. I've recently lost my fear of cream - part of my "all things in moderation" mantra. It can add so much to a recipe. Thanks for this one, Mary! I'm bookmarking it!

I never liked peas growing up...but in recent years, they've become my favorite Spring vegetable. Thank you for sharing with me tonight. After such a difficult week, it has been so refreshing to return to the blogs (and bloggers) that I love. I hope you have a blessed Sunday, sweet woman!

I love anything made with peas and this pasta would indeed be lovely for the warm weather we've been experiencing. The addition of pine nuts sounds wonderful in this dish! I hope you are enjoying your weekend :o)

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